Hebburn man caught in Dark Justice sex sting

Tom Patterson

A pervert from South Tyneside claimed he only turned up to warn a teenage girl about internet dangers when he arrived to meet her.

Wayne Sudama was confronted by paedophile hunters after believing he had been chatting to a 13-year-old schoolgirl called Roxy over dating site Waplog in 2015 but had been duped by Dark Justice, a group that searches the internet looking for men wanting underage sex.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the 41-year-old dad, of Cambridge Avenue, Hebburn, told the girl he thought he was talking to "you are so hot" and, after inviting her to stay at his home, suggested he would get vodka so they could "snuggle up and take it from there".

The court heard that, during the exchange of messages, Suduma told "Roxy" she could sleep in his bed and arranged to meet her at the Centre for Life in Newcastle.

Paul Reid, prosecuting, told the court: "A Facebook search of the defendant's mobile phone number revealed his name and photograph and Dark Justice went to the Centre for Life.

"The defendant turned up at around 8pm. They identified him from the photographs and called the police."

The court heard Sudama ran off when he was confronted by the group but was recorded on video and he later handed himself in to the police.

Mr Reid added: "He said he had no intention of doing anything sexual and said he wanted to shout at her to ask what she was doing talking in this manner online. He said he had children of his own. He said he had no sexual intent.

"His intention had been to warn her about what she was doing."

Sudama admitted attempting to meet a child after grooming.

Judge Stephen Earl sentenced him to 14 months in jail, suspended for 18 months, and ten years on the sex offenders register.

The judge told him: "This was more than just the actions of someone who had realised there was a child online that needs telling off. Clearly, you have not meant that, by virtue of your plea. Even if that was the case, you took it way past that point."

Judge Earl accepted Sudama had never been in trouble before and said he did not expect to see him before the court again.

The judge told him: "Your good name goes and you are publicly humiliated."

David Callan, defending, said Sudama has a job and led a "blameless" life up to now.

He said no sexual or pornographic images were sent by Sudama during the messaging.